"Good morning yesterday. You wake up, and time has slipped away. And suddenly it's hard to find, the memories you left behind. Remember. Do you remember?" - Paul Anka, Times of Your Life

Monday, April 26, 2010

Tallest Building in Singapore

Which was the tallest building in Singapore in 1947? Without even checking the history books, I daresay, it was the Cathay Building. Looking at the old photos taken by Arthur Poskitt and George Shaw in and around 1947, I saw several of this grand old dame.

According to its official website, up to 1955, pilots flying into Kallang Airport often used the 79.5 metre-high Cathay Building as a landmark for their final approach. It was also Singapore’s first air-conditioned theatre.

Below are three photos taken by Arthur Poskitt in 1947. Descriptions by Peter Chan.

Below are two photos taken by George Shaw. The year was around 1946 to 1948. Descriptions by George Shaw.

“Cathay” – HQ of Nippon War Staff. HQ of British (SACSEA) … anyone know what is SACSEA?

“Cathay” – from Bras Basah Road

Below are two photos taken by Lam Chun See in April 2010.

Viewed from Bras Brasah Road

Viewed from Orchard Presbyterian Church

Recently, during the Chinese New Year period, I joined my ex-colleagues from NPB for a ‘lo-hei’ dinner at the Cathay Restaurant. I was truly amazed at how much Cathay has been transformed. It is now an ultra-modern shopping complex with lots of young shoppers. The restaurant itself is much smaller than in 1986 when I attended my younger brother’s wedding dinner.

As for the movies, I can only recall two, Chariots of Fire and Pete’s Dragon. And of course there was the memorable Kodak advertisement with Paul Anka singing Times of Your Life.

By the way, in the photo of Bras Basah Rd, do you see the overhead cables for the tramcars? My only memory of travellling in such a tramcar was along this stretch of road. I must have been very young then. I recall seeing the St Joseph's Institution and the movements were very jerky.

My father often told us that during WWII this grand building could withstand aerial japanese bombing probably due to its 'solid as a rock' granite structure - now?Similarly our sembawang wharves which built by the british during the prewar war days also received severe bombardment both across the causeway and from the air. Later we asked our PSA civil engineers during the seventies how long can these wharves last. They replied probably another 29 years (with some basic maintenance.

In the 1960s-70s, I could see Cathay Building from the staircase as well as the commune kitchen of my SIT flat. At that time, the rectangular structure on the top of the building had a big neon sign that advertised "Tetron" (a kind of fabric?), if I remember correctly. Anyone can confirm this?

It was a hotel in the 50s, then converetd to offices. I remember going to the British Council and taking the elevator. The elevator was on the left side of the ground floor cinema. Then you get to the higher floor and change lift.

The floor where the first lift stopped lead pass the KELONG Restaurant. Then must get pass a big reception. The reception was on the floor where cars from Sophia Road can drive up to Cathay Bdlg from Peace Center (same road to get to MGS School).

There was this big wall-mounted copper tooling painting painted in acrylic colour facing the reception. The painting shining because of spot-lights. the second elevator was tucked beside the reception and the KELONG Restaurant (I think there were 2 elevators). Many students go to the british Council because of the air con and also many Convent School girls to see see.

VictorTORAY was a Jap coampny famous for textile (rayon????). At that time I recall singapore tailors always tell customers dont buy Japanese textiles because made from "plastic material" unlike Swiss fabric which was wool. I saw the wording TORAY printed on the width side of the textile material when packed in roll form.

RussYes that guy is a traffic policeman. Traffic policemen in those days wore white. I like those chino shorts.

I wonder who is the architect behind Cathay Building's art deco look? From the older pictures by Shaw, it does look a bit like a very huge bunker. Probably built like one. That may explain in part why it is popular as a military HQ.

BTW, there is a programme tonight on OKTO called Lost Images at 9pm. It will feature 'lost' colour footages of old Singapore. Looking forward to that. Saw the trailer the other night and it looks very interesting.

Russ. You certainly have very sharp eyes to notice that traffic policeman.

BTW, in my earlier comment, I referred to those as tramcar cables. I remember Victor having pointed out somewhere in his blog that that was not the correct name; but I couldn't find it. I thought it was when he blogged about his first book.

I can still remember the commercial on tv for TORAY TETORON in the late 60’s. The song goes like this “T – O – R – A – Y Toh-o-ray …” and ending with “You know you always, can depend, on Toray Tetoron.” Yes, it was the ad for textile material. I think the company was one of the early manufacturer of synthetic fibres for use on fabric (polyester, nylon).

Chun See, I don’t know about tramcars but trams run on rails with electrical power supplied by overhead cables. Some cities like Melbourne and San Francisco still retain trams as part of their public transport system. I’d like to see pictures of the old STC buses or tramcars that were powered by the overhead cables in Singapore.

Peter, Japanese products have for a long time been considered as inferior. I think Chinese products were likewise labeled in later years. Part of the reason is political, the fallout from the war. Remember how we used to joke about something being “Made in Japan”?

I remember travelling in trolley buses during my school days. If I am not mistaken, during that period, there was a bus stop, along Bras Basah Road, located just outside the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd and which faced opposite the Catholic Centre, now the NTUC Income Centre.

Chun seeThey r called trolley bus and Spore Traction was the only company using it. I used to wonder how come got sparks everytime the bus turn from Bras Basah Road into North Bridge Road in 1961/62? Would the passengers not get cooked like in an oven? So each time the bus made a turn, I watch the sparks and also check if the passengers would get roasted.

Up to 1967/68 i believe the indian dobyman hung their laundry to dry in the sun on that triangular patch.

There was a fort-look alike building with a wooden door at the opposite corner to Bencoolen Street/Bras Basah Road. It was just behind the british Army provost station which itself was on Waterloo Street.

With trams that run on tracks the steel pole from the roof of the tram “touches” the overhead cable – the pole is not connected to the cable. The overhead cable supplies the electrical power to operate the tram. Sometimes the pole can be entangled with the overhead cables or loses its physical connection and the ensuing result is quite messy. Without tracks it must be more of a challenge for the trolleys to stay in the right path without losing its physical connection with the overhead cables. I do recall catching STC buses (or trolleys) in the mid 60s but have never paid much attention to this.

Peter. You mentioned that photo no. 3 is viewed from YWCA (present SMU). Shouldn't that be YMCA. I checked my 1963 street directory and it says YMCA Tennis Pavillion. YWCA is over at Fort Canning Road, near the Red Cross House.

As for the triangular patch in front of Cathay, next to Prinsep Street, I think it used to be a small car park. I seem to recall having parked my car there before.

A Trolley Bus is a trackless electric bus with two spring loaded poles touching overhead cables to complete an electric circuit giving the vehicle power. It does not require tracks or rails.

A Tram or Streetcar uses tracks or rails, the vehicles has only one spring loaded pole touching the overhead cable, the circuit being completed between the overhead cable and metal track or rail via the vehicle.

In the Bras Basah Road photograph the overhead cables are for Trolley Buses as there are no tracks or rails in the road surface.

I recall Trolley Buses in the UK as a child, when the bus turned a corner or varied from the straight and normal it did not lose contact with the overhead cables as the two spring loaded poles where on a pivot and could swing out and back in, this of course providing the bus did not go too far from under the cables, it had to be within the length of the spring loaded poles.

With a tram of course it was much easier for the driver, the track or rails along which the bus was guided remaining directly under the overhead cables

I last saw trolley buses at work in Vancouver in Canada. There are some issues with possible loss of contact with overhead cables and also at complex junctions. I recall that at one major intersection there was a guy standing there with a long hooked pole which he could use to assist the trolleybus to transfer successfully from one power line to another. We used to have them in the UK and they are much missed!

The triangle patch was where you could see the Indian dhobies hanging their laundry and beside it was Rendezvous Restaurant where they served the best nasi padang at that time. Also, there was a flight of steps outside Cathay Cinema and next to the steps was a row of old shophouses towards Selegie direction. That was during the 60's but now it's totally changed. I still prefer the old Singapore and I really, really miss it !

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